Stakeholders seek phase-wise unlocking of Goa tourism industry

Tourism stakeholders in Goa urged state government on Sunday to facilitate phase-wise unlocking of industry, saying if shutdown continues, it will result in job and revenue losses.

tourism industry accounts for 40 per cent of Goa's GDP and is important for country's ecomy, Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG), an umbrella body of tourism stakeholders in state, said in a statement.

Goa's tourism industry has been shut since March when lockdown was enforced in country due to COVID-19 outbreak. state government earlier this month said hotels will be allowed to reopen from June 8, in herence to standard operating procedures (SOPs).

However, most of hotels still remain closed. TTAG appealed to government to unlock Goa's tourism industry "in a phased manner at earliest". industry cant remain closed much longer as re will be substantial jobs and revenue losses for Goa, it said.

"Tourism activities are reopening grually in various parts of India. We in Goa also have to follow suit and bring in guidelines and protocols for reopening of hotels, restaurant, bars and all ancillary industries connected with tourism, it said.

Though protocols and guidelines require hotels to re-open, y cant successfully do so unless bars and restaurants are also given permissions to reopen. refore, re is a need to reopen hotels toger with restaurants and bars, it said.

association said hotels and restaurants were required to open from June 8 and applications were invited for seeking permission for it. However, industry is still waiting for government's d to start operating all its units, it said.

Out of thousands of hotels waiting to reopen, only about 200 have applied for permission and several ors are waiting to see what is going to happen, it claimed.

tourism industry is rey to co-operate and follow SOPs for reopening, but re has to be a practical and sustainable solution. "If re is any furr delay, a lot of people would start losing jobs and y will have mental health issues along with starvation, it ded.

(Photo Credit: PTI)